Q: We have a purple hyacinth bean plant that got beautiful this summer (even after the rabbits and groundhog ate it off at the ground.) We were told the plant should be removed each year and cannot be saved. However in Lancaster, we saw some huge plants that must be returning each year to attain the size they were. If we remove some of the seed pods and keep them in the basement in a brown paper bag, can we replant them next year and expect the plant to grow?

A: You're right on all counts, except for the returning-each-year part. The purple hyacinth bean is a beautiful vine that's an annual... i.e. it dies off with frost each season and has to be replanted the following season.

These are the closest I've seen to a jack-and-the-beanstalk plant because they grow so big in a single season. Given support, it's not unusual for a hyacinth bean to grow 10 feet tall. So what you saw in Lancaster was only this season's growth.

The plant is very easy to start from saved seed. Pick a few mature pods with seeds that are obviously plump inside. You can even let the pods brown on the vine.

Take the pods inside and let them dry. When brittle, open the lima-bean-like pods and remove the smaller seeds inside.

Store these in an envelope or glass jar in a cool, dry place. The ideal spot is inside a jar in the refrigerator with a packet of silica or dried milk. But I've had success just keeping them in a marked envelope at room temperature.

The best way to start new plants is to plant the seeds directly into the soil after mid-May. You can also start them inside several weeks before the last frost, but get them used to the outside gradually and handle gingerly as young plants because beans generally don't transplant terribly well.

Water after planting, and within about 10 days, you should see new shoots. Then stand back and get ready for those big, purple-veined, heart-shaped leaves, lavender-pink flowers and big shiny purple pods.